Sunderland are pressing ahead with their attempts to sign Marcos Alonso, and are ready to offer Modibo Diakite as part of a swap deal

Sunderland have stepped up their pursuit of Fiorentina’s Marcos Alonso - with reports in Italy that Modibo Diakite has been offered as part of a swap deal.

A left-back is right at the top of Black Cats boss Gus Poyet’s shopping list, with the squad he inherited containing no specialist in that role and with stand-ins Phil Bardsley and Jack Colback departing over the summer.

And Spaniard Alonso is Poyet’s first-choice target after he impressed while on loan with the Wearsiders in the second half of last season, making the left-back position his own and playing 20 games in all competitions.

The 23-year-old returned to the Serie A side at the end of the campaign with Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella promising Alonso a chance to shine in pre-season.

Montella has been as good as his word, with Alonso playing the first half of Fiorentina’s first pre-season friendly over the weekend and helping his side canter to an 8-2 win over amateur outfit Team Trentino.

Sunderland have been in contact with Fiorentina during the close-season with a view to bringing Alonso back to Wearside, but so far no deal has been agreed for the former Real Madrid and Bolton Wanderers defender.

But any switch is likely to see French centre-back Diakite move in the opposite direction.

Diakite spent the second half of last season on loan at Fiorentina, and Montella is open to the idea of taking him back next term.

And that would suit Sunderland as Diakite has turned out to be a huge disappointment since his arrival on a Bosman free transfer 12 months ago, in one of the deals that contributed to the downfall of ex-director of football Roberto De Fanti after just seven months in the post.

Diakite, who previously spent seven years in Serie A with Lazio, made just eight outings for Sunderland - half of them under Poyet - before being discarded.

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